Date: Wed, 4 Dec 1996 10:23:29 -0500 (est)
From: Sam Damon
Subject: Religiosity's effects on Gays/Percentage of Gays
> I suspect, if we could put together an actual study (to touch on something
> another person in the thread said) we would find that, of the kids raised
> in american, fundamentalist, evangelical families, participating in music
> in church is a good predictor that the person will grow up to be an out gay
> man or lesbian.
I'm aware of two related studies although I haven't read them yet. I think
they're sitting on my desk though so I can send them as well. Neither
touches on the topic of church music however. As fascinating as church
music is as a factor, I doubt if such studies exist. Here are the two
related studies. I can upload the rather lengthy abstracts later if anyone
is interested.
Newman BS, Muzzonigro PG. The effects of traditional family values on the
coming out process of gay male adolescents. Adolesence 1993;28:213-226.
Ellis L, Wagemann BM. The religiosity of mothers and their offsprings as
related to the offspring's sex and sexual orientation. Adolesence
1993;28:227-234.
> >Indeed. According to the two academic studies I've read on the subject, the
> >prevalence of gays in acting is not significantly higher than it is in most
> >professions.
> [ ... ]
> >I should point out that in another study published last year in the journal,
> >Archives of Sexual Behavior, a researcher found that certain professions are
> >"universally" over-represented by gays. The author used six different
> >cultures, I believe, to represent this universalism. Among the professions
> >that gays seem to favor are ones connected to beauty (i.e. hairdresser,
>
> Before I say anything else, I just want to say, "Sam, we're in agreement on
> something! STOP THE PRESSES! :)" Oh, and I'd love to have a copy of that
> study.
Okay, the presses have been stopped. But not the copying machines so if you
want either the study on gay actors, or the study on universal traits among
gays, I can send them to you via snailmail. Or a fax machine if you have
one.